NORTHWEST COLORADO NEWS AND SPORTS FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6TH

Posted onDecember 6, 2012byKRAI|Comments Off on NORTHWEST COLORADO NEWS AND SPORTS FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6TH

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THE COMMUNITY COMES THROUGH AGAIN DURING THE HOLIDAY DRIVE

The KRAI and 55 Country 14th annual Holiday Drive was declared a big success as the people of Northwest Colorado donated over $25,000 in cash, thousands on new toys, tons of food and over one hundred items to benefit Advocates Crisis Support Services, Christmas for Kids, Christmas for Seniors, and the Interfaith Food Bank in Craig. Dozens of volunteers and radio station staffers were all part of the 24 hour drive which took place in front of the Centennial Mall in Craig. You can see pictures from the Holiday Drive in the photo gallery above. Check back tomorrow, as we will add additional pictures over the next few days.

BIRDING TRAIL MEETING TO BE HELD IN STEAMBOAT

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory are inviting the public to an informational presentation to learn more about the northwest portion of the new, statewide Colorado Birding Trail. The Colorado Birding Trail features a series of driving loops providing the public with a variety of wildlife viewing opportunities across large portions of the state. The presentation will also include details about how landowners can participate by allowing their property to be part of the trail. The trails in the southwest and southeast portions of the state are complete, and the northwestern phase of the birding trail is underway and scheduled for completion in June 2013. The night includes dinner and refreshments. The presentation will be held December 13th at 6 at Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Steamboat office. You can RSVP by calling 970-482-1707 ext. 25.

MOFFAT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS INVITE PUBLIC TO OPEN HOUSE

Moffat County will hold a Commissioner Open House next week. The current Board of Commissioners – Tom Gray, Audrey Danner, and Tom Mathers – will be there, as well as Commissioners-Elect, Chuck Grobe and John Kinkaid. Everyone is encouraged to stop by to chat with the Commissioners. Light refreshments will be served. The open house is Wednesday morning from 9 to 11 in the Commissioners meeting room of the Moffat County Courthouse.

HICKENLOOPER PRAISED FOR KEEPING COOL IN ENERGY DEBATE

The Colorado chapter of Americans for Prosperity yesterday praised Governor John Hickenlooper for what they see as the measured, rational and civil approach he’s been taking on an array of often- contentious energy issues facing the state. Chapter President Jeff Crank says the governor’s calm, reasoned open-minded approach to dealing with such issues, including hydraulic fracturing, should be a model for others to follow. Crank is responding to increased hostility, volatility and intolerance demonstrated by fracking opponents. He cites an incident Tuesday night at a Boulder County Commission meeting, which was repeatedly disrupted by anti-fracking protesters, who then chased an energy industry representative down the street, despite a security escort. He says it revealed an intolerant side to some green extremists, who are willing to shout-down and intimidate those who express alternative views. Crank says Governor Hickenlooper’s ability to deal with energy issues calmly, despite the strong emotions involved, shows he’s the right man to be presiding over those issues.

FEDS CONSIDER PUMPING WATER FROM MISSOURI RIVER TO WESTERN STATES

Federal officials are considering a pipeline to pump water from the Missouri River to western states to deal with increasing overuse of the Colorado River. The diversion is listed as a possibility after review of more than 100 ideas submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Bureau officials said Tuesday the Missouri River Reuse Project will be reviewed as part of a federal study on water supply for the West. Colorado officials have not taken a position on the proposals. The Missouri diversion described in federal documents would require a pipeline across Kansas, with water used to fill surface reservoirs and recharge depleted aquifers along the way to metro Denver.

LAWMAKERS FORM CAUCUS TO ENSURE ENERGY SAVINGS IN FEDERAL BUILDINGS

U.S. Representatives Cory Gardner and Peter Welch announced the roll out of a bipartisan caucus that will focus on promoting performance contracting in government buildings across the country and thereby provide guaranteed energy savings to American taxpayers. In a joint statement, the lawmakers said “the goal of our caucus is going to be pushing for policies that reduce energy costs, cut pollution, and create jobs. There is nearly 3 billion square feet of building space that is owned and operated by the federal government, and by making government buildings more energy efficient we can save taxpayer dollars and give a boost the construction and energy sectors of our economy.” The Energy Savings Performance Caucus consists of 10 members and was inspired by Gardner and Welch’s collaboration on several amendments to promote the use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts. In December of 2011, President Obama authorized department and agency heads to use up to $2 billion toward the implementation of ESPCs, which are contracts between the federal government and a private company. The Federal Government, however, has been slow to act on taking advantage of the energy savings. Gardner and Welch hope the formation of their caucus can move the process along a bit faster by getting executive branch departments to evaluate their own facilities and identify potential savings.

TEAM TO RESEARCH USING E. COLI AS BIOFUEL

A team led by University of Colorado Boulder has won a five-year, $9.2 million grant for research on how to manipulate E. coli to produce cost-competitive biofuels. With a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the team will use a nonpathogenic strain of E. coli to pinpoint what part of its genome can be used to make biofuels or other chemicals at a low cost. The research team is led by Ryan Gill, who is a fellow at CU’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute. The team also includes scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

In high school sports:
Today:
In basketball:
The Steamboat boys and girls host a tournament with Moffat County attending.
The Meeker boys host their shootout with Rangely attending.

Tomorrow:
In basketball:
The Meeker boys continue their shootout with Rangely attending.
The Steamboat boys and girls continue their tournaments with Moffat County attending.
The Rangely girls go to a tournament in Duchesne, Utah.

DENVER BRONCOS
The Denver Broncos play at Oakland tonight. You can catch all the action on 55 Country with the pre-game at 4:30 and the kick-off at 6:20.